Thread: Overcoming Performance Anxiety

I've just found this and wondered if it might be any help to anyone.

The Stage have published the whole of chapter 7 - Overcoming Performance Anxiety, from Andrew Evan's book 'Secrets of Performing Confidence' and although it's possibly more info. than most of us need, there's lots of good stuff in it.

Here's the link: The Stage / Advice

And over Christmas I downloaded an audiobook "How To Deal With Nerves" from iTunes which is only £2.95 and again has some good ideas in it.

If this sort of thing helps you, the audio book is hosted by Tony Wrighton, who has also done a great and cheap audio book called "How to be superconfident in 30 minutes" again for only £2.95 available to download from iTunes. It concentrates on creative visualisation to help you through situations and I have to say it was a HUGE help to me preparing to leave the house and go to burlesque events and the first time I maided at an event (but then I have severe social anxiety problems) but for less than £3 I could see it being very useful for anyone a bit nervous about performing for the first time.

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Hey Tempest ^_^

I looked at the stage link and found it to be really helpful and informative. I have my first performance at the end of the month and recognised a couple of the 'symptoms' of stage fright (lack of sleep...) i also suffer from back probs, (which seem to exacerbate when im anxious). Thanks for posting that up, it instilled some reassurance to my fretful nature! :twothumbs:

Violette x

Originally Posted by Violette Haze

Hey Tempest ^_^

I looked at the stage link and found it to be really helpful and informative. I have my first performance at the end of the month and recognised a couple of the 'symptoms' of stage fright (lack of sleep...) i also suffer from back probs, (which seem to exacerbate when im anxious). Thanks for posting that up, it instilled some reassurance to my fretful nature! :twothumbs:

Violette x

There's another good thread about dealing with nerves on here recently.

I like the idea that you're not nervous, you're excited - this isn't an exam (in fact you're the only one who knows how it's supposed to go, it's a surprise to the audience, they're not waiting for you to do something they know back to front), it's an opportunity to share something you're really excited about, that you've been working on for a while and desperately want to share with a very supportive crowd of people.

Break a nail! and tells us how it goes afterwards! You'll be brill!

This thread title sounds like the topic of some spam e-mails I got along with the usual viagra offers!

Hahahaha......you're rude

Yes, perhaps I should change it....."Overcoming Performance Anxiety And How To Not Peak Too Early**"




**I'm obviously talking about nerves peaking too early, honest guv

Originally Posted by tempest devyne

There's another good thread about dealing with nerves on here recently.

I like the idea that you're not nervous, you're excited - this isn't an exam (in fact you're the only one who knows how it's supposed to go, it's a surprise to the audience, they're not waiting for you to do something they know back to front), it's an opportunity to share something you're really excited about, that you've been working on for a while and desperately want to share with a very supportive crowd of people.

Break a nail! and tells us how it goes afterwards! You'll be brill!

Yes! I shall! and there will be pics (and hopefully) some footage to reveal all ^_^

Thanks,

Violette

Originally Posted by tempest devyne

Hahahaha......you're rude

Slanderous!

Seriously thought, that's an unfortunate choice of title for that chapter - 'performance anxiety' is a recognised term outside of acting etc.!

A recent study showed that an actor goes through the same levels of stress before going on stage as a driver experiencing a car crash!

Rhymes with Purple will be running an "Acting Without Fear" workshop soon. It's primarily designed for actors but the techniques will be applicable to all performers who go on stage.

oooo ill check that out, i have anxiety problems too....just try reaching me on the phone, i hardly ever bring myself to pick up!! Thanks xx

Try the breathing exercises - as you get anxious you breathing gets shallower and faster. If you can slow that down then you can alleviate some of the nerves - breath in slowly through the nose hold and then breathe out through the mouth. The classic is the 4/7/8 - 4 seconds to breathe in 7 to hold and 8 to breathe out. However I don't bother with this - so long as you can slow and regulate your breathing and make sure your out breath is slightly longer than your in breath you should find it helps